Hairline Reduction

Hairline reduction is a procedure that allows your entire hairline to be brought forward. It is the most suitable for patients who has a naturally high forehead or for patients who are starting to experience receding hairline.

Who is suitable for this procedure?

The most ideal candidate is someone who has a high and broad forehead and is looking to improve their forehead shape and facial proportions. Having good scalp skin elasticity will allow for adequate movement of the hair-bearing scalp to achieve the desired results. Furthermore, adequate volume and density of hair will improve the overall results.

It will also help reduce the appearance of a widow’s peak.

People who are starting to have a receding hairline from male- or female-pattern baldness are not good candidates as the hairline will continue to recede over time.

What does this involve?

This surgery is also known as forehead reduction surgery or scalp advancement flap surgery. The principle of this surgery is to move hair-bearing scalp downwards over your forehead to reduce the distance between your receding hairline and your eyebrows.

The procedure involves making an incision along the junction of your hairline, to allow for movement of about one to three centimeters of the hairline forwards.

This will create a more harmonious facial proportions, by providing you a more balanced vertical thirds of the face as well as a narrower forehead shape. It will give you an immediate and homogenously dense hair volume over the area covered when compared to hair transplantation. The scar is so well camouflaged over the hairline junction that it will be barely visible.

With hair transplant surgery, a lot of hair is required to correct the entire hairline and a long time is required for the results to show.

Sometimes both procedures can be done at intervals to improve the overall results.

Where is this procedure performed?

This procedure takes about 2 hours.

This procedure can be performed in the clinic procedure room or day surgery centres. As it can be done under intravenous sedation or general anaesthesia if you prefer. This is generally a day surgical procedure and does not require hospitalization.

How long does it take to recover from the surgery?

It generally takes about one week for the initial recovery period. Returning to work after the week is possible, although there will still be some remaining swelling and bruising.

Majority of the swelling and bruising will settle over the following 3 to 4 weeks.

During this period, you can choose to wear a hat or use a scarf to cover the wound and scar.

After about three months, you will also start seeing hair growing through the incision. This will make the scar less obvious and a more natural result.

There will be temporary numbness over the scar as well as several centimeters within the scalp region for between six to nine months after surgery. The numbness will gradually improve as the nerves regenerate after surgery.

What care is required following surgery?

You will be provided with sufficient analgesia and other necessary medications following the surgery. There will be a clinic review one week after surgery for removal of sutures.

You are advised not to wash your hair for the first week until the sutures are removed.

During the initial 2 weeks, it would be advisable to sleep with your head elevated with several pillows to aid with reduction of swelling and bruising.

We will also teach you how to keep the wound clean and to look out for potential infection.

You should avoid hair treatment, perming or dyeing your hair for one month after the surgery.